On Tuesday, officials at Palm Beach International Airport and Silver Airways will join local dignitaries and passengers to celebrate the Fort Lauderdale-based carrier’s newly launched daily nonstop flights between Tampa and West Palm Beach.

An inaugural ceremony is planned at the West Palm Beach airport at 12:40 p.m. on Jan. 8 ahead of the departure of the second of Silver’s daily departure to Tampa, which is scheduled to leave at 1:35 p.m.

Silver is operating the route, which officially started on Monday Jan. 7, with its flagship Saab 340Bplus aircraft, which has a capacity for 34 passengers.

Saab 340B plus aircraft, Saab Aircraft Leasing/COURTESY

The new year-round daily flights will leave the West Palm Beach airport at 7 a.m. and 1:35 p.m., arriving in Tampa at 8:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., respectively, Palm Beach county tourism officials said in a statement.

Passengers can continue on to Tallahassee from both flights. The flights then take the same return route, leaving Tampa at 11:35 a.m. and 6:20 p.m., arriving back in PBIA at 12:30 p.m. and 7:20 p.m., respectively.

View of parking garages at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Courtesy of www.FLL.net

UPDATE: 4:50pm

South Florida airports reported fewer flight delays and cancellations Friday, as the big winter storm that began Wednesday moved away from the U.S. Midwest and Northeast.

Fort Lauderdale – Hollywood International Airport said it expected the following flight delays and cancellations from 7 a.m. through midnight Friday: On arrivals, 41 delays and two cancellations (JFK and Detroit); and on departures: 31 delays and one cancellation (JFK.)

Travelers are advised to check with their airlines before heading out to the airports to get the most up-to-date flight status and information.

FRIDAY MID-DAY POST

Fort Lauderdale – Hollywood International Airport said it expected the following flight delays and cancellations from 7 a.m. through 8 p.m. Friday: On arrivals, 10 delays and two cancellations (JFK and Detroit); and on departures: 11 delays and one cancellation (JFK.)

As of 4:22 p.m. Dec. 27, officials at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International were expecting a total of 191 flight delays and 1 cancellation through midnight due to bad weather in the northeast and midwest U.S.

Miami International Airport: As of 4:00 p.m. there were nine weather related delays and 10 cancellations at the Miami airport, spokesman Marc Henderson said.

Warm weather locales Miami and Orlando are among the top destinations travelers are opting to ring in 2013, according to a recent Hotwire.com report. Other popular cities are New York, Las Vegas and New Orleans.

MIA's North Concourse D, Miami Dade Aviation Department/COURTESY

Hot spot Miami is a newcomer to the list at No. 5, with average nightly hotel rates of $157, meanwhile Orlando, takes the No. 1 spot and hotel rate of $73.

Orlando remains a perpetual favorite for families because of its theme parks, Hotwire said.

The top 10 destinations are as follows:

Rank

City

Average Nightly Rates on Hotwire

1.

Orlando, Florida

$73

2.

Chicago, Illinois

$88

3.

Las Vegas, Nevada

$133

4.

New York City, New York

$231

5.

Miami, Florida

$157

6.

San Francisco, California

$114

7.

London, England

$128

8.

San Diego, California

$79

9.

Los Angeles, California

$111

10.

New Orleans, Louisiana

$142

The top 10 list of New Year’s destinations and average prices were based on hotel bookings made on its website Dec. 4, for travel between Dec. 30 and Jan. 2, according to Hotwire.

Panama is upping its ante as a travel destination: The developer of the Trump hotel and tower in Panama’s capital said South Africa’s Sun International will invest $105 million at the property to add a casino by mid-2014.

The new casino at the Trump Ocean Club will have its own lobby and feature 600 slot machines, 32 gaming tables, a restaurant and a lounge area. It also will have exclsuive areas for top clients.

The 70-story Trump Ocean Club includes residences, a hotel, restaurants, fitness center, five pools, retail and other amenities.

Sun International’s portfolio includes 27 resorts, luxury hotels and casinos in eight countries. Trump Ocean Club will be its second operation in Latin America after the Monticello in Chile.For more information, visit www.TrumpOceanClub.com.